Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Already dealt an unexpected blow when Isaiah Rodgers‘ gambling suspension surfaced after the draft, the Colts’ cornerback contingent sustained another loss Sunday. Dallis Flowers will not return this season.
The second-year corner suffered a torn Achilles, Shane Steichen said (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder). Flowers emerged as a starter during the preseason and had opened each of Indianapolis’ four games as a first-stringer on the boundary.
Flowers joined Julius Brents as Indy’s outside starters alongside slot staple Kenny Moore. The Moore-fronted group went through major changes this offseason, when the team traded Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys and let Brandon Facyson walk in free agency. Found to have bet on Colts games, Rodgers incurred an indefinite ban and hit waivers soon after the suspension surfaced. Rodgers is now with the Eagles, who will attempt to see if he can contribute — pending reinstatement — once his contract tolls to 2024.
A Division II product out of Pittsburg State, Flowers arrived in Indiana as a UDFA last year. The 26-year-old defender started one game in 2022, working as a kick returner and backup defender. This year, he lined up on 99% of the team’s defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus ranked Flowers just outside the top 40 at the position. An extensive rehab effort will need to take place before the 6-foot-1 defender can resume his on-field growth.
Beyond Moore, the Colts are inexperienced at this position. Second-year UDFA Darrell Baker appears to be the next man up, having played 110 defensive snaps thus far this season. Brents replaced Baker in the lineup, after the latter opened the season as a starter. PFF ranks Baker as the league’s second-worst corner through four games; he might have a second chance soon. Seventh-round rookie Jaylon Jones looms as an option, and sixth-year veteran Tony Brown (four career starts) are also on Indy’s 53-man roster.
Indianapolis has made a couple headline moves, but, most notably, succeeded in trimming their roster down to 53 players today. Here are the moves that helped them get down to the limit today:
The biggest stories of the day for the Colts come in the linebacking corps. In addition to adding star linebacker Leonard off the PUP, Indianapolis acquired second-year player Grant Stuard in a trade with Tampa Bay today. Stuard was primarily a special teamer with the Buccaneers last year, playing in every game as a rookie. He’ll go from one stacked linebacker room to another, likely backing up Leonard upon his arrival.
The Colts have quite an interesting rookie class. A sixth-round defensive tackle, Brooks is the only drafted rookie not to make the final roster besides sixth-round tight end Andrew Ogletree who will start his NFL career on injured reserve. None of this is spectacular, though. The interesting part is that Indianapolis will roster four undrafted rookies to start the 2022 NFL season.
Former SMU safety Trevor Denbow finds his way onto the initial 53 after leading the NFL this preseason with five special teams tackles. Cornerback Dallis Flowers can also thank his special teams value as his athleticism was supplemented by a 53-yard kickoff return to help him make the team out of Pitt State. Former Cornhusker JoJo Domann joins Leonard and Stuard in the linebackers room. And the French-Fries offensive line combination stays alive as Wesley French makes the final roster out of Western Michigan.
There were a number of other players who have special teams’ ability to thank for their roster spot in addition to Denbow and Flowers. Running back Deon Jackson played on all punt/kick return/coverage units for the Colts last year, earning him a tightly contested roster spot over Lindsay and Williams. Cornerback Tony Brown was the team’s highest-graded special teams player in the preseason, according to Pro Football Focus, and safety Rodney Thomas IIÂ played the third-most special teams snaps on the team.
Finally, the biggest performer of the Colts’ preseason was likely quarterback Sam Ehlinger whose stellar preseason led Indianapolis to roster three quarterbacks going into the season. The former-Longhorn’s impressive preseason play helped him earn a spot on the initial roster despite the Colts already rostering starter Matt Ryan and one of the league’s top backup quarterbacks in Nick Foles.
The Colts will have the opportunity tomorrow to announce any moves to form their 16-man practice squad. Players cut today who have not vested will have to clear waivers before returning to the team.